THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Director Taika Waititi's AKIRA Adaptation Is Reportedly Moving Forward

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Director Taika Waititi's AKIRA Adaptation Is Reportedly Moving Forward

Some fans were hoping this one fell by the wayside, but a new report indicates that Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi is preparing to forge ahead with his long-gestating Akira movie.

By MarkCassidy - Apr 11, 2023 11:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Akira
Source: Via Anime Mojo

We found out back in 2020 that Warner Bros.' long-gestating live action Akira adaptation had been pushed back after the latest director to be attached to the project, Taika Waititi, signed on to helm Thor: Love and Thunder for Marvel Studios.

Updates have been few and far between since, but the filmmaker didn't sound too confident that he'd get the opportunity to direct the project during a recent interview.

However, Deadline's Justin Kroll believes the movie is finally moving forward with Waititi at the helm, which is why there was no mention of his Star Wars film during Celebration over the weekend.


Kroll notes that "nothing set in stone," but it "sounds like all his focus is on that project."

This news is bound to get a mixed response  - especially after the lukewarm reception to Love and Thunder - but Waititi has previously revealed that he is a huge fan of the manga/anime, and intends to cast race-appropriate actors (which wasn't always going to be the case).

There have been several attempts to adapt Akira over the years, and most of them were going to move the story to the U.S. and feature Caucasian actors in the lead roles. The script that came closest to becoming a reality also made Kaneda and Tetsuo brothers.

It sounds like it's very early days, so we wouldn't expect any solid updates for a while. For now, be sure to let us know what you make of this development in the comments down below.

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Lokiwasright
Lokiwasright - 4/11/2023, 11:06 AM
Should be fun as Thor love and thunder.

I love that movie
dragon316
dragon316 - 4/11/2023, 12:05 PM
@Lokiwasright - I like Thor love and thunder more ragnorock love and thunder was more serious compared to ragnorock comedy start to finish
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 4/11/2023, 12:09 PM
@Lokiwasright - Movie shouldn't be fun. Akira is supposed to be very serious similar to The last of us. If you dumb it down or make it a fun crowd pleaser.....its going to be a terrible adaptation.
Chaos200
Chaos200 - 4/14/2023, 8:41 AM
@Lokiwasright -
santoanderson
santoanderson - 4/11/2023, 11:08 AM
The response to Love and Thunder definitely pumped the brakes on a lot of his projects, huh?
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 4/11/2023, 11:23 AM
@santoanderson - A lot of his project have been on brakes before L&T
Toonstrack
Toonstrack - 4/11/2023, 11:53 AM
@santoanderson - no? They just told you another project is actively happening lmfao

L and T was a massive financial success my guy. You lot pretending it flopped or something are hilarious
FilmGuy7878
FilmGuy7878 - 4/11/2023, 11:08 AM
Waititi has a great directorial style and (sometimes) has a great sense of humor and heart in writing so I have a lot of hope for this if it is in fact moving forward. Taika needs a crowd-pleasing hit after LaT destroyed all respect people had for him.
KaptainKhaos
KaptainKhaos - 4/11/2023, 11:13 AM
Good for him, I'll stick to the Manga and Anime Movie.
Spike101
Spike101 - 4/11/2023, 11:14 AM
As long as it keeps him away from any Marvel properties this can only be a good thing!
Steel86
Steel86 - 4/11/2023, 11:14 AM
Taika is a great director when he takes his projects seriously. He seems to be really in love with this project and can't wait to see what he does with it if truly given the opportunity.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 4/11/2023, 7:04 PM
@Steel86 - I just hope he doesn't try to add his weird humor to it. A properly made live action Akira could be amazing, but I dont see why Taika would have been cosen to direct it. He is known for his humor and thats the last think Akira needs.
Steel86
Steel86 - 4/11/2023, 7:14 PM
@Shivermetimbers - He pushed for it and I don't think there was alot of directors beating down the door for it, lol. But he is a very talented director but would really need to suppress his natural tendencies.
mountainman
mountainman - 4/11/2023, 11:15 AM
I really like all of Waititi’s stuff besides L&T. He usually makes good movies, but his humor is present in all of them. I don’t know if his tone is right for Akira.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 4/11/2023, 7:04 PM
@mountainman - Spot on. Hoping he takes it seriously and delivers a solid adaptation as a live action Akira could be amazing.
tmp3
tmp3 - 4/11/2023, 11:16 AM
serious contender for worst movie of all time
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